Johnny Wayne
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2007) |
Johnny Wayne | |
|---|---|
 Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster in 1944 | |
| Born | Louis Weingarten May 28, 1918 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | July 18, 1990 (aged 72) Toronto |
| Resting place | Holy Blossom Memorial Park, Toronto |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto |
| Occupation(s) | Comedian, comedy writer |
| Spouse | Beatrice (1946-1980, her death) |
| Children | Michael, Jamie, and Brian |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Canada |
| Service |  Canadian Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1946 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
Johnny Wayne (born Louis Weingarten, also given as John Louis Weingarten;[1] May 28, 1918 – July 18, 1990) was a Canadian comedian and comedy writer best known for his work as part of the comedy duo Wayne and Shuster alongside Frank Shuster (1916–2002).
Personal life
[edit]The son of a successful clothing manufacturer who spoke several languages and the eldest of seven children, Johnny Wayne was born in downtown Toronto, in the College/Spadina area,[1] and attended Harbord Collegiate Institute, where he met his future comedy partner, and later attended the University of Toronto, majoring in English literature.[1]
Starting with entertaining scouts, he and Shuster wrote some original scores and performed at the university's Hart House Follies.[1]
Professional life
[edit]Wayne and Shuster began working together in the 1930s and continued their successful collaboration on stage, radio, and television until Wayne's death.[2] Wayne played to Shuster's straight man.
During World War II Wayne enlisted with the Canadian Army with Shuster, assigned to The Army Show (1942–1945),[3] a troop entertainment unit like ENSA, including stage-performing soon after the Normandy landings of June 1944.[4]
Following the war, they produced material for the Department of Veteran Affairs, before rejoining CBC Radio in 1946, producing 39 half-hour episodes a year, until 1953.[1] Wane with Shuster went to the new medium of television in the mid-1950s.[4]
The duo appeared in The Ed Sullivan Show in May 1958, and were considered as Canada's comedy ambassadors,[4] later going on to produce for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation until 1989.
He had musical talents and was a successful songwriter in the 1950s, including co-writing Bobby Gimby's 1958 hit "Jimbo".[5] In 1964 he recorded the song "Charlottetown", which he wrote and sang for the Canadian Confederation Centennial.[6]
Later life
[edit]Wayne was a curling enthusiast and was a commentator alongside Alex Trebek and Doug Maxwell during the 1968 CBC Curling Championship.[7]
He married Beatrice Lokash, in 1946. They were married until her death from cancer in 1980.[citation needed]
They were parents to three children, one of whom is notable historian Michael Wayne.[citation needed]
Wayne died from brain cancer in 1990.[2] He is buried at Holy Blossom Cemetery, in his home town of Toronto.[citation needed]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e KEZWER, Gil (July 5, 1996). "Tickling the funny bone: Icons of Canadian humor, Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster, live on in CBC's archives". Jewish Western Bulletin. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
- ^ a b "No. 119, Wayne and Shuster at the National Archives of Canada: The Frank Shuster Fonds". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
- ^ Lungen, Paul (August 22, 2017). "Wayne and Shuster: the iconic comedy team that delighted audiences for years". The Canadian Jewish News. Toronto. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
- ^ a b c GLASSMAN, Marc (2008). "Duo were Canada's comedy ambassadors". Playback Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
- ^ "Artist: Wayne, Johnny". jam.canoe.com. Jamie Vernon's Great White Noise Magazine Presents the Canadian Pop Encyclopedia. November 28, 2004. Archived from the original on May 26, 2017.
- ^ "News of the World". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. December 12, 1964. p. 18.
- ^ CBC Television Series 1952 to 1982, Con-Cus Archived 2010-03-11 at the Wayback Machine
External links
[edit]- Johnny Wayne at IMDb
- Johnny Wayne discography at Discogs
- Johnny Wayne at Find a Grave
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- 1918 births
- 1990 deaths
- Canadian television personalities
- Canadian male television actors
- Canadian male radio actors
- Canadian male stage actors
- Jewish Canadian comedians
- Jewish Canadian male actors
- University of Toronto alumni
- Male actors from Toronto
- Curling broadcasters
- Deaths from brain cancer in Canada
- Curlers from Toronto
- Comedians from Toronto
- 20th-century Canadian male actors
- Canadian sketch comedians
- 20th-century Canadian comedians
- Canadian Screen Award winning writers